ARC hands out NZ’s first ever Enviroschools Awards

9 December 2003

Students from 18 schools around the Auckand region today received the first awards to be handed out as part of a national sustainability programme called Enviroschools.

The bronze and silver awards were given to representatives of the schools by the Auckland Regional Council at its inaugural Enviroschools Awards celebration.

The Enviroschools Awards scheme was developed the ARC in partnership with the Enviroschools Foundation - a foundation established by Hamilton City Council in 1993.

Many regional and local councils around New Zealand are currently introducing the Enviroschools Awards programme, with the ARC being the first council to hold the awards.

In order to qualify for an award, schools must meet a set of criteria, including having whole community and school involvement, environmental education procedures, an environmental review, action projects to enhance the school’s built and natural environments, and an established envirogroup (comprising children and adults who make decisions on school environmental initiatives).

ARC environmental education co-ordinator Hilary Chidlow attributed the successful implementation of the programme in the region to the dedication of Auckland schools towards environmental education.

“Teachers and students have been so receptive of the environmental education initiatives the ARC, and its partner Team Solutions, has to offer, and it’s this all-embracing attitude that has carried through to the Enviroschools Awards scheme,” Ms Chidlow said.

“It’s been an exciting year because schools have been really enthusiastic about the awards as they have given students something to aim for,” she said. “But the most exciting aspect of the programme is that students are really involved in the decision making process, and that’s the whole point, because when young people care they are more likely to take action for the environment.”

The schools that won a silver award were Beachlands School, Pigeon

Mountain School, Verran School, Glen Eden Intermediate, and Maramarua Primary.

Bronze awards went to Auckland Girls Grammar, Bayswater Primary, Blockhouse Bay Primary, Glen Eden Primary, Laingholm Primary, Lynfield College, Meadowbank Primary, Papakura Normal, Pukekohe East, Tapora School, Tirimoana School, Willowbank School, and Woodlands Park.

ENDS

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